Combined bolster center filler and rear draft lug unit



March 31, 1953 E. H. BLATTNER ET AL COMBINED BOLSTER CENTER FILLER ANDREAR DRAFT we UNIT Filed July 7, 1950 FIG. 1

FIG. 2

R Inventors:

Emil H. BIOH ner Glenn E Couch YWQ FIG.

their Attorney draft lug of a pair may be subjected to a greater buflingload than its companion draft lug and this unequal load is then,ordinarily, transmitted in unequal magnitude to the respective sillflanges 5. This invention is such that irrespective of the unequal orunbalanced loads which may be imparted to the respective forward walls,both flanges of the center sill will receive the loads in equal force.Toward the accomplishment of this function, each vertical innerextremity of a forward wall or draft lug is integgrally joined with arelated extremity of a rib or intermediate, load transmitting wall [3.Each rib is directed preferably vertically for at least the full heightof the side walls and is spaced inwardly of the unit from a companion,related or adjacent side wall. As clearly illustrated, particularly inFigure 1 of the drawings, the ribbing follows, for a given direction,the periphery of the bottomwall bifurcation and as such may beconsidered as starting from the inner extremities of the draft lugs asintegral parts thereof and then being directed diagonally ortransversely of the unit at an oblique or acute angle to the side walls.The ribbing forms an X design when considered in plan and therefore theribs merge into one another when they cross as at [4 on what might beconsidered as the longitudinal center line of the unit as designated bythe diagrammatic line marked AA on Figure 1 only of the drawings. ThisCIOSSiIlg of the ribs is preferably at the transverse center of the unitso that each rib is a substantial counterpart of the other rib.Continuing from a crossin of the ribs, each rib is directed in asubstantially straight, however diagonal, line toward an extendedvertical longitudinal plane of an opposed side wall, or stated inanother manner, each rib extends from near one side wall to a plane ofthe other side wall where it terminates in an auxiliary side wall I5.Each auxiliary side wall is in longitudinal alignment with a side walland as such is arranged to be in full surface bearing relation with thesill side flange inwardly of the center sill. It will be noted,therefore, that any load imposed on a particular draft lug will betransmitted to one sill side flange by a companion unit side wall andalso to the other sill side flange by a companion rib.

In order to tie the ribbing together adjacent lower extremities thereofand particularly that port-ion thereof which grows out of the crossingtoward the rear extremity of the unit, the bottom wall or base plate isextended rearwardly and horizontally as at It for this purpose. Becauseit is believed not absolutely essential to continue the bottom wallentirely transversely of the unit to the extreme rear end 3 thereof, thebase plate at this location is cut away or omitted as at I! thus causinthe formation of gussets [8 to strengthen or reinforce the auxiliaryside walls and this omission also functions in lightening the unit-whichis a desirable feature in units of "the present type.

So as to properly reinforce the ribbing against shocks to which it willbe subjected in service, a diagonally arranged brace or stiffening wall19 is spaced a predetermined distance in back of each draft lug. Eachbrace desirably upstands vertically from the bed plate as an integralpart thereof but for only a distance approximating one-half the heightof the side wall and rib in that area. As previously stated the braceextends diagonally of the unit and is interposed between and forms apart of a related rib and 4 side wall so as to be capable of conveyinglateral component forces between a rib and its related side wall. Forthe same purpose as that above set forth, each rib in the rear of thecrossing is also provided with a tie bar or plate 20 which extends fromits juncture with the rib in a direction outwardly, diagonally orforwardly of the unit to merge with a rear extremity of an opposed sidewall as at 21. A portion of each tie bar and a portion of each relatedrib are extended vertically or upwardly beyond the upper limits of theribs and side walls to form an angle shaped crown or comb 22 whichterminates preferably short of the center sill top web where it isjoined to the top web by means of welds 23; see particularly Figures 2,3 and 4. These crowns or combs not only assist in a proper positioningof the unit vertically within the center sill but also function as abond or connecting medium between the unit and center sill about thelatter of which more will be contained hereinafter.

As will be understood this unit is disposed in a car body at a locationOf the body bolster and the car body is connected to a suitable truck(not shown) at this same location through the medium of a king pin (notshown). For the accommodation of the king pin, the unit is provided witha post or cylindrical sleeve 24 which stands upright from the bed plateas an integral part thereof. The post is located on the longitudinalcenter line of the unit or in longitudinal align ment with the ribcrossing to be centrally located transversely of the unit. Because thepost is subjected to service horizontal loads this post is reinforced,longitudinally, by aligned triangular knee braces 25 which merge withthe base plate. For the same reason the post is joined to the ribbing byvertical, transversely directed tie walls 25. From an inspection ofFigures 2 and 4 it will be noted that the post has a height equal toonly a part of the height of the side walls and ribbing and for thisreason, as well as presenting an adequate tie, the portion of each tiewall merging with the post is for a height equal to that of the post andthe portion of the tie wall merging with a related rib is for a heightequal to the main part of the rib. In order to further reinforce thisarea of the unit the bottom plate is extended as at 2'! outwardly orlaterally of the unit beyond the ribs but preferably terminated short ofa meeting with the sill side flanges. These portions 21 of the bottomwall are further joined to the ribbing by vertical backup walls 28 whichdesirably are in transverse alignment with the tie walls and therefore,the post is not only suitably reinforced but the entire area of the unitat this location presents a rugged, skeletonized component.

Various means may be employed to anchor the unit to the center sill andwhile the conventional means such as rivets (not shown) may be employedit is preferred to follow the teachings outlined in the copendingapplication of Emil H. Blattner, Serial No. 93,800, filed May l7, 1949.This type of fastening may, for convenience, be classified as a plu weldbut actually it goes far beyond what this simple classification implies.Both the side wall and the auxiliary side walls of the unit areadditionally or inwardly thickened in local, vertically directed,longitudinally spaced areas by pads 29. Vertically arranged in each areaare a plurality of drillings 30 which extend only partially into thepads and preferably do not project entirely therethrough. The centersill side flange is provided with a plurality of holes 3 F whiclr may;be of the samesize or slightly larger im-diam eter than thedrillingsyand with whichthe heles are in axial alignment- The holes-anddrillingsarefilled completely: with welds 32 -andathusthe -unit is' not' onlyrfirmly- 5 attached-to the center -sill' but in addition all of theholding- -means are subj ected only'" to shearforcesth'erebyincorporatingan ideal condition in the'yrelationshipa To-*further bind the unit to" thecenter sill, an outer vertical edge-of eachdraft -lug "is-so formed tc -present*a-' triangularpocket =with theadjacent' 'sill side flange and-this pocket functionsas' a depositoryfor a weld '33:

Fromtheabove it will be noted that various changes-andalterations may bemade-to theillus trated and 'l'lescribed construction without r dc---partingfrom tliespirit of the-invention and scope a of the appendedclaims.

We=claimr 1. In a-combined bolster center filler and draft lug unit, thecombinationpf,vertical side walls extending partially-the--lengtlr-ofsaid unit from one,;.extremityz thereof, a .;bottom substantiallyhorizontal plate joining said sideawallsata lowers; edgethereof,.verticaldraft lugs extending transversely and inwardlyofsaid'unit from said one extremityy-and vertical ribbing extending from-ysaid bottom-plate; saidribbing starting *atsaid draft lugs in transversespaced relation to said side walls and being directed diagonally of saidcasting to terminate in auxiliary side walls forming interruptedcontinuations of said side walls.

2. In a combined bolster center filler and draft lug unit, thecombination of, vertical side walls spaced transversely of said unit, abottom horizontal wall joining said side walls, vertical draft lugsextending transversely of said unit from said side walls, 'and verticalribbing extending from said bottom plate; said ribbing joined to saiddraft lugs in transverse spaced relation with said side walls andextending therefrom diagonally and longitudinally of said unit beyondsaid side walls to terminate in auxiliary side walls longitudinallyaligned with said side walls.

3. In a combined bolster center filler and draft lug unit, thecombination of, vertical and longitudinal side walls spaced transverselyof said unit, a bottom wall connecting said side walls, vertical draftlugs instanding from and formed integral with said side walls, andvertical ribbing upstanding from said bottom wall inwardly of said unitfrom said side walls; said ribbing arranged in cross formation andextending from said draft lugs diagonally beyond said side walls toterminate in auxiliary side walls in alignment with said side walls.

4. In a combined bolster center filler and draft lug unit, thecombination of, vertical and longitudinal side walls, a bottom walljoining said side Walls adjacent a lower extremity thereof, transverselyspaced draft lugs extending inwardly of said unit from said side wallsadjacent common ends thereof, and vertical ribbing upstanding from saidbottom wall in transverse spaced relation to said side walls; saidribbing forming an X and extending from said draft lugs diagonally ofsaid unit to terminate in auxiliary walls parallel with said side walls.

5. In a combined bolster center filler and draft lug unit, thecombination of, vertical and longi- 70 tudinal side walls, a bottom walljoining said side walls adjacent lower extremities thereof, verticalforward walls transversely spaced and extending from said side wallsadjacent common extremities thereof, and vertically directed ribbingupsideaswallszand;idirected.".diagonallyibeyond J'saidlug:unitjithe;combinationpfi.yerticallyzandiong 6standingafronrsaiitbottomiwallt 'said 'ribbing exatending from saidIfdrwardi walls diagonally of said unit beyond saidzfside walls tow'continue therebeyond in alignmentaiwith Said-' Sid&*W&11Si

6; 1 In. a -combined bolster:centerlfiller and draft# lug nnit,the-combination: of vertically and longi'- tudinally directed side walls'abed:wall extende ing transversely of saidiunitabetweem saidisidewalls, =.,verticaliibufiing wallssinstanding: of saidiunitwfromksaid'fsida -walls.iadjacentixcommometremities: thereof',-:'ascylindrical lpOSt :.-upstanding from said :bedwall; andvertical-iibbinggupstandwing from. said' :ibed: .wall;f said; ribbingextending: from :said :bufling: walls insspaced relatiomtoisaid:

sideiwallsztoaaterminateain:spaced-;relation::toxands.

imalignment iwith said sideewalls'a said-z-posti;-b;e-.;.i-=

ing positioned betweeni-isaidiribbings z.

7'".:;In arcombihedi-bolstemcenterifillemandidraft'udinallysdireoted:side:wailspazbed walliextend in ztransversely-of.;;-said linitiabetweenztsaid: s"wallsaverticahibufiingiwallsxdirected,:inwardlygs-of; saidnunitiintransrerse;.-spaced -relation and .flifimiz l common extremitiesaof;said .aside,;;walls;; andtaz; o s1ribbingzun tandinsrfmmzsaidgbed gwall:said-2;, ross ribbin i c mprisin i azzlih r.-.J'Qi nedj:.to leach? fiaiwail andidirected .dia ona11y;..aoi;said-;uni beyqndi an.;ppn9sed:side.wall. and te.rmi-natiri iiini an auxiliary side wall inalignment with said. opposed side wall.

l8. In a combined bolster center filler and draft lug unit, thecombination of, vertically and longitudinally directed side walls, abase platejoining said side walls, a forward wall extending partiallytransversely of said unit from an extremity of a companion side wall andjoined to said base plate, and a rib spaced from a companion side walland connected to said base plate and a for- Ward wall; said ribextending longitudinally and diagonally of said unit to terminate inspaced longitudinal alignment with an opposed side wall.

9. In a combined bolster center filler and draft lug unit, thecombination of, vertically and longitudinally directed side walls, abase plate joining said side walls adjacent lower extremities thereof, aforward vertical wall extending partially transversely of said unit froma companion side wall, a rib spaced from a companion side wall andconnected to a related forward wall and said base plate; said ribextending longitudinally and diagonally of said unit to terminate inspaced longitudinal alignment with an opposed side wall, and reinforcingwalls joining each rib and said base plate.

10. In a combined bolster center filler and draft lug unit, thecombination of, vertically and longitudinally directed side walls, abase plate joining said side walls adjacent lower extremities thereof, aforward vertical wall extending partially transversely of said unit froma companion side wall, a rib spaced from a companion side wall andconnected to a related forward Wall and said base plate; said ribextending longitudinally and diagonally of said unit to terminate inspaced longitudinal alignment with an opposed side wall, a pin postupstanding from said base plate and spaced from said rib, and flangesjoining said post and base plate.

11. In a combined bolster center filler and draft lug unit, thecombination of, vertically and longitudinally directed side walls, abase plate joining said side walls, a forward wall extending partiallytransversely of said unit from an extremity of a companion side wall andjoined to 7 7 said base plate, a rib spaced from said companion sidewall and connected to said base plate and forward wall, said ribextending diagonally of said unit and terminating in longitudinalalignment with an opposed side wall, and a king post upstanding fromsaidbase plate and spaced from said side walls and rib.

12. In a combined bolster center filler and draft lug unit, thecombination of, longitudinally directed vertical side walls, a baseplate joining said side walls, a forward wall extending partiallytransversely of said unit from a companion side wall, a king postupstanding from said base plate intermediate said side walls, and a ribconnected to said base plate and forward wall, said rib extendingdiagonally of said unit and termininating in longitudinal alignment withan opposed side wall rearwardly of said king post.

.13. In a combined bolster center filler and draft lug unit, thecombination of, longitudinally directed side walls, a base plate joiningsaid side walls, transversely spaced forward walls each extendingtransversely of said unit from a companion side wall toward an opposedside wall, cross-ribbing upstanding from said base plate, saidcross-ribbing comprising a rib joined to each of said side walls andextending diagonally of said unit to terminate in longitudinal alignmentwith an opposed side wall, said ribs intersecting intermediate said sidewalls, and a king post unstanding from said base plate and spacedlongitudinally from the intersection of said ribs.

14. In a combined bolster center filler and draft lug unit, thecombination of, longitudinally directed side walls, a base plate joiningsaid side walls, transversely spaced forward walls each extendingtransversely of said unit from a companion side wall toward an opposedside wall, cross-ribbing upstanding from said base plate, saidcross-ribbing comprising a rib joined to each of said side walls andextending diagonally of said unit to terminate in longitudinal alignmentwith an opposed side wall, said ribs intersecting intermediate said sidewalls, and a king post unstanding from said base plate between said ribsand spaced longitudinally from the intersection thereof.

EMIL H. BLA'I'I'NER. GLENN F. COUCH.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Drenning Mar. 31, 1925Number

